Micky Hammond

The most telling relationship in Hammond's operation right now is with jockey Aiden Brookes, who has partnered Hammond's horses on 106 occasions — a remarkable number that speaks to genuine trust between trainer and rider. From those 106 rides, they have won together 4 times, which is 4 wins from every 100 rides, or roughly 1 in every 26. That is a low conversion rate, and it is worth being honest about: either the horses they work with together are competitive without quite getting over the line, or the partnership simply has not clicked the way either party would hope. Still, the sheer volume of those rides together tells you this is Hammond's go-to combination, and partnerships sometimes take time to find their rhythm.

Less encouraging is the record with Shadowfax Of Rohan — zero wins from eight races together. Eight attempts without a win is the kind of run that tests patience on both sides of the stable door. Whether that reflects the horse's limitations, bad luck, or races that simply did not set up right, it remains the one partnership in Hammond's yard that has so far produced nothing to show for the effort.

Four years in, 170 winners banked, and a yard running at high volume — Hammond is clearly past the point of being a newcomer and has established himself as a working part of the training landscape. The next step is lifting that win rate. Going from 1 in 17 to 1 in 12 or 13 would transform how the yard looks on paper, and with the foundations already in place, there is every reason to think that improvement is achievable rather than just aspirational.